Synthesis, characterization, and caesium adsorbent application of trigonal zinc hexacyanoferrate (II) nanoparticles

• Published in: Journal of environmental chemical engineering 2021-12, Vol.9 (6), p.106772, Article 106772
• Main Authors: Trung, Nguyen Dinh, Ping, Ning, Lan, Le Thi Ha, Dan, Ho Kim
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: adsorption; caesium; chemical co-precipitation; ion exchange; zinc hexacyanoferrate
• ISSN: 2213-3437; 2213-3437
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jece.2021.106772

Trigonal zinc hexacyanoferrate (TZHF) nanoparticle adsorbents for effective caesium ion (Cs+) removal were prepared using the chemical coprecipitation method. The morphologies of zinc hexacyanoferrate (ZHF) were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM), and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). These analyses confirmed that the trigonal structure of ZHF and surface area is 43.08 m2/g. Cs+ removal was dependent on pH, with the greatest adsorption occurring under near-neutral conditions, and the removal process decreased with increasing pH. The Langmuir model was determined to be suitable for describing the adsorption process of Cs+ by ZHF. The mechanism of Cs+ adsorption was examined by Total Reflection X-ray Fluorescence (TXRF) using the gallium internal standard. In addition, the main mechanism of Cs+ adsorption by the ion exchange process was proposed and discussed. The crystal structure of one unit cell of ZHF; blue (N), black (C), red (Zn), yellow (Fe), pink (H2O and/or K+). [Display omitted] •Trigonal zinc hexacyanoferrate nanoscale adsorbent for effective Cs+ removal was prepared.•Mechanism of caesium adsorption was examined by TXRF using gallium internal standard.•Trigonal zinc hexacyanoferrate (II) adsorb Cs+ occurring under near-neutral conditions.